Device to aid in the stringing of an archery bow



March 26, 1963 M. R. SCHALL 3,082,756

DEVICE TO AID IN THE STRINGING OF AN ARCHERY BOW Filed March 10, 1961 INVENTOR Myron 1?. Saba ZZ BY 42,4229- 6262M ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,082,756 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 3,082,756 DEVlCE T AID IN THE STRINGING OF AN ARCHERY BOW Myron R. Schall, 1540 Virginia Ave., West Sacramento, Calif. Filed Mar. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 94,801 Claims. (Cl. 124-23) This invention relates-in general-40 an accessory for use by an archer.

In the stringing of an archery bow, and which requires the bow to be flexed or bent so as to decrease its span for connection of the bow string under tension, it is the common practice for the archer to manipulate the bow as follows:

The lower tip of the bow is first placed against the inside of one shoe and then, while holding the upper tip with one hand and at arms length away from the body, the archer pulls the central grip of the bow toward himself with the other hand. With such procedure it is difiicult to impose suflicient bending force on the bow, and the lower tip frequently tends to slip away from the foot, with loss of control and possible damage to such lower tip by twisting, or impact with the ground.

Frequently, when the lower tip is twisted this portion of the bow is permanently impaired, and the bow loses its ability to cast an arrow straight.

The above considerations apply especially to recurve bows, and whichbecause of their curvatures-are particularly susceptible to damage or injury if not properly handled and controlled during the bending of the bow for stringing.

It is therefore the major object of this invention to provide a device, as an aid to stringing an archery bow, which protects, and prevents possible slipping of, the lower tip during the bending of the bow; permits of complete control of the bow; allows the archer to exert a maximum of strength on the bow with safety; avoidss the possibility of the archer stepping on the lower tip of the bow or fraying the adjacent portion of the bow string; and in general greatly facilitates the operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device, as an aid to stringing an archery bow, which is effective to maintain the bow-as bentwith an even stress on both limbs, and as is desirable in the stringing of a bow.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device, for the purpose described, which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, together with ready and convenient use.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a practical, reliable, and durable device to aid in the stringing of an archery bow, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device as in use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the device as in use.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the device; the position of the lower tip of the bow, and the archers shoe, being indicated in dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is a foreshortened elevation, partly in section, taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the device, to aid in the stringing of an archery bow, comprises an elongated loop of flexible cord, such as rope; the loop being indicated generally at 1, and includes closely adjacent, substantially parallel legs 2 at the end portion opposite the turn of said loop.

The initially free ends of the legs 2 of loop I extend into transverse sockets 3 formed side by side in, and opening in the same direction from, a cross block 4; the latter preferably being cylindrical and of wood or plastic.

The ends of the legs are prevented from escape from the sockets 3 by means of substantially diametral securing pins 5 driven in the cross block 4 in intersecting relation to said ends of the legs 2. The pins 5 are countersunk at the head so that there is no projection from the cross block 4.

At the end opposite the cross block 4 the loop 1, at the closed end or turn thereof, is provided with a protective sleeve of leather or similar material; such sleeve being indicated at 6.

The numeral 7 indicates an archery bow of the recurve type, which bow includes a central grip 8, an upper limb 9, an upper tip 10, a lower limb 11, and a lower tip 12.

In order to bend the bow for the purpose of stringing the same the hereinbefore described device is used in the following manner:

The device lies on the ground with the cross block 4 abutting the outside of one shoe 13 of the archer and in alinement with the instep 14. The legs 2 of loop 1 extend under such instep and with the remainder of said loop projecting laterally inwardly some distance from said shoe.

With the bow string 15 connected to the lower tip 12 of the bow, and with the latter facing outwardly, the archer places one hand on the central grip 8 and the other hand on the upper limb 9; then also holding, with such other hand, the free upper end of said bow string.

Nextly, the lower tip 12. of the bow is placed in the eye 16 of the loop 1, and the archer-holding the upper tip 10 outwardly at arms length from his body-then pulls toward his body on the central grip 8. In this Way the necessary and substantial bending of the bow 7 is accomplished for the purpose of attaching the upper end of the bow string 15 to the upper tip 10.

During the period of time that the bow is bent it remains under full control of the archer, and the lower tip 12 is elfectively held by the loop 1 in the most advantageous position for the operation, yet without the possibility of said lower tip escaping and striking the ground with possible damage, or twisting in a way to permanently deform said lower tip 12 or lower limb 11.

Not only can the bow stringing operation be accomplished readily and with facility, but additionally the possibility of the bow escaping and snapping back against the archer is minimized.

While the device has been described herein as used in connection with the stringing of an archery bow, it will be obvious that said device is also usable for unstringing a bow; i.e., to accomplish the release of the bow string 15 from the upper tip 10.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired.

1. A device, to aid in the manual bending of an archery bow, comprising a cross block adapted to engage on one side against the outside of one shoe of an archer in the zone of the instep, an elongated loop of flexible cord, and means connecting the initially free ends of the loop to the cross block in closely spaced relation and with said loop projecting from said one side of the block; the loop being of a length adapted to extend beneath the instep and to a closed end termination laterally inwardly thereof whereby said closed end of the loop defines an exposed holding eye for reception of the lower tip of a bow manually supported by the archer.

2. A device, as in claim '1, in which the cross block is formed with sockets in which the initially free ends of the cord engage; said connecting means being substantially diametral pins driven in the block in intersecting relation to such ends of the cord in the sockets.

3. A device, to aid in the manual bending of an archery bow, comprising a cross block adapted to engage on one side against the outside of one shoe of an archer in the zone of the instep, an elongated loop of flexible cord, and means connecting the initially free ends of the loop to the cross block and with said loop projecting from said one side of the block; the loop being of a length adapted to extend beneath the instep and to a closed end termination laterally inwardly thereof whereby said closed end of the loop defines an exposed holding eye for reception of the lower tip of a bow manually supported by the archer, and a sleeve of protective material on the closed end of the loop.

4. A device, to aid in the manual bending of an archery bow, comprising a member adapted to engage the outside of one shoe of an archer in the zone of the instep, a relatively small floor-supported element connected to and projecting from the member on one side and intermediate the ends thereof and of a length to extend beneath the instep to a termination laterally inward thereof, and a horizontal holding eye on said termination of the element for the reception of the lower tip of a bow manually supported in an upstanding position by the archer.

5. A device to aid in the manual bending of an archery bow comprising a flexible cord doubled centrally of its length to provide an elongated loop adapted to rest on the floor and project under the instep of one shoe of an archer with the outer end of the loop clear of one side of the shoe in position for the rcception of the lower tip of a bow manually supported in an upstanding position by the archer, and an elongated block having a straight longitudinal edge on the bottom and one side to flatly engage the floor and the opposite side of the shoe and to which side of the block the initially free ends of the loop are connected intermediate the ends of the block and in relatively close relation to the floor.

Gillegan Oct. 19, 1897 Cook Aug. 1, 1905 OTHER REFERENCES Archery Magazine, June 1957, p. 12. 

1. A DEVICE, TO AID IN THE MANUAL BENDING OF AN ARCHERY BOW, COMPRISING A CROSS BLOCK ADAPTED TO ENGAGE ON ONE SIDE AGAINST THE OUTSIDE OF ONE SHOE OF AN ARCHER IN THE ZONE OF THE INSTEP, AN ELONGATED LOOP OF FLEXIBLE CORD, AND MEANS CONNECTING THE INITIALLY FREE ENDS OF THE LOOP TO THE CROSS BLOCK IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATION AND WITH SAID LOOP PROJECTING FROM SAID ONE SIDE OF THE BLOCK; THE LOOP BEING OF A LENGTH ADAPTED TO EXTEND BENEATH THE INSTEP AND TO A CLOSED END TERMINATION LATERALLY INWARDLY THEREOF WHEREBY SAID CLOSED END OF THE LOOP DEFINES AN EXPOSED HOLDING EYE FOR RECEPTION OF THE LOWER TIP OF A BOW MANUALLY SUPPORTED BY THE ARCHER. 